Suction cleaner



D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER May 8, 1934.

Filed Nov. 14

Patented May 8, 1934 PATENT? OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 14, 1930, Serial No. 495,643

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and in particular to an improved agitator therefor. More specifically the invention comprises an improved form of rotary agitator which embodies a multiplicity of agitating means and which is adapted to be embodied in a motor driven suction cleaner.

The invention has for its object the provision of an improved surface covering agitator for a suction cleaner. Another object is the provision of a suction cleaner agitator which functions to agitate the pile of the surface covering undergoing cleaning for the purpose of dislodging the foreign matter embedded therein. Still another object is the provision of an improved agitator for a suction cleaner which flexes the pile of the surface covering undergoing cleaning independently of any agitation of the covering as a whole. A still further purpose of the present invention is the provision of an improved agitator by which the pile of the surface covering undergoing cleaning is flexed repeatedly at high frequency and is also brushed. Still another object is the provision of an improved suction cleaner agitator which flexes and ag'itates the pile of the surface covering and also gives to the body of the surface cover a positive beating. Other and more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and considering in connection therewith the annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, disclosing an improved agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig, 2 is a modified embodiment of a preferred type of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the agitator shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of the agitator shown in Fig. 2 illustrating an alternative method of construction.

Figure 5 is a side view partially in cross-section, showing an agitator embodying the principles of the present invention in a suction cleaner.

In the removal of foreign matter from the surface covering it has long been recognized that means other than cleaning air are necessary to effect complete renovation. Air, by itself, when drawn into the nozzle of a suction cleaner passing over a surface covering to be cleaned, serves only to remove the surface litter which is close to the top, or surface proper, of the covering being cleaned, and it is discovered that the really harmful and injurious foreign matter, which is embedded at the base of the pile of the surface covforeign matter at the base of the pile.

ering and which comprises grit and sand etc., remains embedded in the covering to perform its injurious pile-cutting action upon the movement of the pile when being compressed or subjected to relative movement as when steppedupon. The more efficient suction cleaners of the present day embody some form of agitating means which cooperate with the cleaning air in removing the dirt and it is towards an improved agitator which serves to remove efiiciently the deeply embedded and harmful foreign matter from the surface covering that the present invention is directed.

In the past different types of agitating means have been relied upon to effect the dislodgment of the deeply embedded foreign matter from the surface covering. Rotary brushes have been used but fail, by themselves, to accomplish the end desired. Vertical beaters which are reciprocated within the suction cleaner nozzle have been employed with some success but are objectionable because of the high speed reciprocation and the resultant noise. The present day rotary agitator embodying the positive beating elements such as a helically-extending beater bar has been found by experience to be a satisfactory means of vi- 30 brating the entire surface covering to effect the dislodgment of the deeply embedded foreign matter.

In the agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention reliance is placed upon the 35 high speed rotation of an agitator which carries an agitating element upon its surface which functions to deflect or bend the pile at a high frequency from its normal vertical position longitudinally of the agitator axis. This flexing of the pile permits the entrance thereinto and therebetween of the cleaning air, thereby increasing the cleaning effectiveness of the air and further performs the useful function of dislodging and breaking up the embedded and impacted The defiecting elements embodied in the present invention comprise, in effect, continuous spirally-extending raised surfaces on the body of the agitator and function with maximum efficiency when combined with a brush or with a. positivesurface-beating elementas will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring now to the drawing, and Figure 1 in particular, a preferred embodiment of the 5 present invention is disclosed which comprises an agitator including a body 1, which is rotatably mounted when in position in a suction cleaner, upon a nonroatable shaft 2 extended beyond the ends thereof. In order that the agitator may no receive a rotating force a pulley 3 is carried by the-body, and is shown mounted at the end thereof in threaded relationship. Positioned upon the peripheral surface of body 1 and extending therearound in opposite directions of angular advance from a common center point 5 are the pile-deflecting elements 4, 4, which may be formed integrally on the body 1 or may be suitably attached thereto. Elements 4, 4, as aforedescribed, have a common central point at which they are gradually reduced in height until they substantially merge into the surface of the body 1. This gradual sloping of the agitating elements at the point 5 serves to prevent injury to the surface covering undergoing cleaning through theelimination of what would otherwise be a sharp projection. As elements 4, 4 extend helically or spirally upon the surface of body 1 and are of relatively small pitch, less than 45 degrees, they encircle the body many times in traversing half its length. At each end of the agitator an element 4 completely encircles the body 1 forming a ring 6 which serves as a carpet spacer.

On the body 1, and spaced 180 degrees circumferentially from the pile-flexing elements 4, 4, are brushes 8, 8 which also have a common central point which is indicated by the numeral 7. Brushes 8, 8 extend spirally in a manner similar to that of the flexing elements 4, 4 and, being spaced circumferentially therefrom, function to brush the covering undergoing cleaning at each point of contact between successive contacts by the elements 4, 4.

In the operation of the aforedescribed embodiment of the present invention upon the rotation of the suction cleaner motor, a suitable driving belt being connected to the pulley 3, the agitator is rotated at high speed about its non-rotatable supporting shaft 2. The agitator makes contact with the surface covering as that covering is lifted to the cleaner nozzle by the reduced pressure existing therein and as the pile-deflecting elements 4, 4 rotate they, in effect, worm their way through and through the covering pile functioning to deflect and separate adjacent pile tufts and to loosen the embedded foreign matter therein making possible its removal by the cleaning air. The brushes 8, 8 assist in the cleaning operation by brushing away the light dust on top of the covering and also the more deeply embedded matter which is dislodged by the elements 4, 4. In the operation of the present embodiment there is a total absence of what is known as surface covering beating in the sense of that section of covering which is lifted into or against the suction cleaner nozzle mouth being vibrated as a whole with a view to displacing the embedded foreign matter. Instead, the surface covering remains in contact with the lips of the suction cleaner nozzle and reliance is placed solely upon the pile flexing by the elements 4, 4, and the brushing effect'of the brushes 8, 8 to remove the foreign matter which is then carried away by the cleaning air.

Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention disclosed in Figure 2, a suction cleaner agitator is shown which comprises a body 11 having formed upon its surface pile-deflecting convolutions extending in opposite direction of 12, 12 which extend to the ends of angular advance from a common central point. These surface-contacting pile-deflecting elements comprise, in effect, spirally or helically arranged continuous raised portions or protrusions the body fr m said common central point. Between the adjacent convolutions of the raised portions 12 are portions of reduced radius or height which also extend continuously to the end of the agitator body from a central point. Positioned upon the surface of body 11 and superimposed upon the helically-extending raised portions 12, 12 and the intervening portions of lesser height are elements 13, 13 which also extend from the common central point of the helically-extending raised portions 12, 12 of the body 11 toward the opposite ends of the agitator. Elements 13, 13, however, are of relatively great pitch making approxi mately one complete revolution between the central point of body 11 and the ends thereof as compared with the many complete turns of the raised pile-deflecting portions 12, 12. The superimposed elements 13, 13, which are known as heating elements, may be formed either as separate elements and. attached to the surface of body 11 and held thereon by suitable rivets, as shown in Figure 3, a rivet being indicated by the reference character 14, or may be formed integrally in body 11 of the agitator thru being extruded therefrom as shownin Figure 4. In the present modification of the invention the agitator is supported upon' a nonrotatable shaft 15 and is adapted to receive a rotating force thru the pulley 16 which is suitably carried at one end of the body 11 and secured thereto as by means-of screws 17, 17.

In this last described embodiment of the present invention the raised portions 12, 12 function in exactly the same manner as the pile-deflecting portions 4, 4 of the previously described embodiment and serve to flex the pile of the surface covering in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the agitator resulting in the dislodgment of the deeply embedded and impacted foreign matter therein. The. superimposed beater elements 13, 13 are, in fact, of the usual beater type and function, in operation, to strike the surface covering with great force serving to vibrate it and to shake therefrom the foreign matter. Such action supplements the cleaning effect of the pile-deflecting elements 12, 12 which have loosened and dislodged the embedded dirt by means of continued pile flexing and make it still easier for the cleaning air passing thru the cleaner nozzle to carry said foreign matter away to a suitable dirt receptacle provided in the cleaner.

From the foregoing it is apparent that applicants, invention embodies a new and novel suction cleaner agitator of a type making use of a new theory of surface covering agitation for the purpose of removing the embedded foreign matter therein.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, an agitator of the rotary type, comprising an elongated body, a helically extending protrusion of small pitch angle encircling said body a plurality of times and providing a plurality of points of surface contact adapted to advance axially of the agitator upon its rotation to deflect the surface covering pile, and a positive beating element on said body adapted to displace the surface covering beyond the periphery of said protrusion and positioned between the extremities thereof, and means to rotatably support said body.

2 An elongated rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, including a body, a helical pile-deflecting element extended on the surface of said body in the direction of the length of said agitator and having a pitch angle of less than degrees, and a surface-beating element extended in the direction of the length of said agitator and having a pitch angle of more than 45 degrees, said elements being positioned within the length of said body and arranged to contact the same part of the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

3. An agitator as defined by claim 2 characterized by the fact that said surface-beating-element is superimposed upon said pile-deflecting element.

4. A suction cleaner rotary agitator adapted to contact a surface covering comprising large diameter encircling means to deflect the pile of the surface covering in a direction whose component parallel to the agitators axis exceeds its component perpendicular thereto, and other means to beat and vibrate the same portion of the surface covering and cooperating with said first-mentioned means to dislodge embedded foreign matter in said covering, and means to movably support said means.

5. A suction cleaner rotary agitator comprising an elongated cylindrical body, pile-flexing means encircling said body arranged to deflect the pile of a surface covering undergoing cleaning in a direction having a component parallel to the axis of the agitator of the magnitude of the deflection perpendicular thereto, and other means superimposed on said first-mentioned means to beat and vibrate the surface covering, and means to rotatably support said body.

6. The combination of a cleaner nozzle and a rotary cylindrical agitator within the nozzle and approximately tangent to the plane of the nozzle aperture, said agitator having an elongated encircling pile-dividing and deflecting protrusion of agitator diameter on its surface, the center line of the protrusion being at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of n the agitator.

7. In a suction cleaner of the type adapted to lift the surface covering undergoing cleaning from the supporting surface, a nozzle, a rotary agitator in said nozzle arranged to contact the lifted surface covering comprising an elongated body and rigid pile-deflecting means of small pitch encircling said body, characterized by the fact that said means are arranged to exert a force on the pile of the, contacting covering having a component parallel to the axis of rotation Which is of the same magnitude as the component of force perpendicular to that axis.

8. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, means to support said nozzle with its mouth spaced above a surface covering undergoing cleaning, suctioncreating means to create to reduced pressure in said nozzle and to lift said covering into contact adapted to extend into the pile of a surface covering undergoing cleaning, said pile-deflecting means being arranged to exert a greater force on the pile of a contacting surface covering lengthwise of said agitator then crosswise thereof, said agitator being so positioned in said nozzle that the cleaning air drawn therethru by said suction-creating means passes between adjacent turns of said means to remove all foreign matter therefrom.

9. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, means to support said nozzle with its mouth spaced above a surface covering undergoing cleaning, suctioncreating means to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle and to lift said covering into contact therewith, a rotary agitator in said nozzle comprising a body, means rotatably supporting said body, a rigid pile-deflecting element carried by said body and extending radially therebeyond, said pile-deflecting element being of small pitch and encircling said body a plurality of times thereby providing a plurality of points of surface contact for the purpose of deflecting the surface covering pile of the lifted portion of the covering in the direction of the agitator axis upon rotation, said agitator being so arranged in said nozzle that the cleaning air drawn therethru by said suction-creating means passes between said elements and thru the pile of the surface covering at the points of deflection by said elements.

10. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, means to support said nozzle with its mouth spaced above a surface covering undergoing cleaning, suctioncreating means to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle and to lift said covering into contact therewith, a rotary agitator in said nozzle including a constant radius helically arranged rigid pile-deflecting element having a pitch angle of less than 45 degrees, said element being adapted to contact the lifted surface covering and to deflect the pile upon agitator rotation, said agitator being so arranged in said nozzle that cleaning air drawn therethru passes along said element and thru the pile of said covering at the point of deflection.

11. In a s'uction cleaner, a nozzle, means to support said nozzle with its mouth spaced above a surface covering undergoing cleaning, suctioncreating means to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle and to lift said covering in contact therewith, a rotary agitator in said nozzle including a rigid pile-deflecting means of small pitch and of agitator diameter .whose surface forms in effect a screw thread, said deflecting means being adapted to extend into the pile of the lifted covering and exert a greater force thereon lengthwise of said agitator than crosswise thereof, and pile-brushing means of substantially the same pitch and direction of angular advance as said deflecting means interspaced therewith.

DONALD G. SMELLIE. 

